Ooops! All this has escalated a bit when all I wanted to say was that despite GB's public condemnation of spin, there seems to be an awful lot of people coming forward saying how wrong the US approach to post-Saddam Iraq was in a veiled way of justifying our disengagement. Meanwhile, the US has committed to an almighty surge to try and create the conditions that the Iraqis might have a fighting chance at running their own country - they might not have been right in the first place, but they could well be doing right now. I simply feel we are trying to pull out so our Government doesn't have the Iraq issue any more at a time when GB blatantly wants to ensure he can be re-elected. Wouldn't he look a more sturdy PM if he states we need to ensure that all the loss of life and superhuman effort will be in vain unless he hands over Basra in a stable state to the satisfaction of the Iraqi Govt and the US and Coalition partners - then we don't look like we're just legging it claiming we wanted to play in Afghanistan all along. Also it might show that GB values the effort our guys have put in - leadership isn't a popularity contest.